ULTIMATE
AFRICA SAFARIS
Ultimate Africa travel and wildlife news archive May 2000 Today Show Features Victoria Falls, May 7 2000 Earlier the week on May 1, 2000 the Today Show featured Matt Lauer in Zimbabwe. The broadcast from Victoria Falls glowed about how wonderful the country was. The US ambassador to Zimbabwe was interviewed and he said that it is safe and the only real issue was political rallies, which should be avoided. 2 Zimbabwe Lodges Refurbish, May 7 2000 Zimbabwe Sun’s Bumi Hills & Fothergill Island Lodges will closed for refurbishments with effect from May 5 until July 20, 2000. They have taken advantage of the quiet period to improve the lodges. Clients who are booked at these lodges during the renovations period will be accommodated at Katete Safari Lodge. That is an enormous upgrade for those guests! Drifters Johannesburg Inn Renovated, May 7 2000 Drifter’s Adventours is relaunching its Johannesburg Inn after extensive renovations. The picturesque thatched property has been refurbished to bring it into line with the other 15 Drifters Inns in and around Southern Africa. The inn features 16 twin rooms with private bathroom facilities, a restaurant, bar, TV lounge and a swimming pool. A lodge theme was used to create a bush feeling within the city, and all furniture and fittings have been fashioned using local hardwoods, natural stone and thatch. The Inn is situated in the northern Johannesburg suburb of Northcliff, close to the Emmarentia Dam, which incorporates the Johannesburg Botanic Gardens. Trans-Frontier Park to be Launched, May 7 2000 Africa’s first trans-frontier park, Gemsbok National Park in the southwestern Botswana, will be officially launched by President Festus Mogae and his South African counterpart, Thabo Mbeki. The merger of the Gemsbok National Parks and the Kalahari Gemsbok National Park in South African into a single 37,000 square km jointly managed park is expected to boost tourism in the area and assist in the management of the ecosystem. Officials at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry noted that the new move is bound to have economic benefits for the two countries and communities in the area. SADC Countries in Joint Tourism Project, May 7 2000 Ministers from five Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries involved in the development of the Okavango-Upper Zambezi Tourist Initiative will soon meet on the implementation of the project. Speaking at the on-going Zimbabwe International Trade Fair last Wednesday an official with Zimbabwean Ministry of Industry and Commerce Norman Chakanetsa said that Angola, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe would soon map out the project. The Okavango tourism project is an ambitious plan aimed at creating an international tourism attraction area to the north-west of Bulawayo that would incorporate game parks in the five SADC countries. The proposed development zone would cover an area of 260,000 square kilometers. It would incorporate international tourist assets such as Livingstone in Zambia, Zimbabwe’s Hwange National Park, the Caprivi Game Reserve in Namibia, the Northern Okavango in Botswana and the Mucusso and Luena National Parks in Angola. The governments’ contribution to the project would be through the upgrading of infrastructure such as roads, bridges and airports while the private sector would invest in hotels and related facilities. Innovative Conservation Effort in Kenya, May 14 2000 A partnership of Kenyan and American businesspeople has launched a new initiative to raise awareness on wildlife conservation in Kenya and abroad. The project will involve the sale of goods whose production does not degrade the environment through its site at www.wildlifeworks.com. As a first step, Wildlife Works is working on a garment factory near Tsavo National Park, to be run under the rules of Export Processing Zones. The firm is also seeking an understanding with local landowners to have a large tract of land near the production facility placed under a conservation project. According to the firm's chief executive officer, Mr. Mike Korchinsky, the accent of the firm's activities would be on community-based production facilities that will create employment to those residing in conservation areas. "Our aim is to reduce the economic pressure on wildlife-rich areas so that adjacent communities can appreciate the value of the animals in their neighborhood and generate profits. We must link the American consumers' love for the environment with the local community's need for day-to-day survival," he said. The firm would also use the Internet to find other products made in similar facilities elsewhere to meet the demands of what it feels is an increasingly conservation-aware market. "We represent a new direction in 'for-profit conservation'. Our aim is to prove that this has greater potential to generate benefits to rural communities" Mr. Korchinsky added. Ugandan Chimpanzees Maimed by Poacher’s Snares, May 14 2000 25% of the chimpanzees in Uganda have lost parts of their limbs after being caught in poachers' snares. The director of the Ngamba Island chimpanzee sanctuary project, Debbie Cox, says that the lameness resulting from snaring could reduce the survival of the chimpanzees, which are a major tourist attraction. The high rate of snaring is blamed on under-staffing in the forest reserves and game parks. The population of chimps in Uganda is estimated at 2,000 - 3,000. An international chimpanzee workshop in Entebbe recently resulted in the formation of an alliance of 12 chimpanzee sanctuaries in Africa to address the growing number of chimpanzee orphans. World’s Largest Wildlife Area Planned, May 14 2000 Plans to develop the proposed Gonarezhou - Kruger - Gaza Transfrontier Area are the subject of recent discussions by the environmental ministers from Zimbabwe, South Africa and Mozambique. The proposal, which incorporates Zimbabwe’s Gonarezhou National Park, South Africa’s Kruger National Park and the Mozambican wildlife areas in Gaza province would become the largest wildlife conservation area in the world, made up of just over 100,000 square kilometers. The project is part of the Peace Park’s Foundation, one of the most ambitious wildlife projects ever launched. Its aim is the creation of ‘transfrontier’ conservation areas (TFCA’s) that range across international borders. Initially seven areas were identified in 1998, involving South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Swaziland and Lesotho. Politicians and conservationists have welcomed this eco-tourism project. The creation of jobs, rural growth and preservation of the wildlife can only be of benefit to the people and wildlife of the region. Air Zimbabwe Increases Flights, May 14 2000 Air Zimbabwe is increasing its flight frequencies within the southern Africa region. The airline’s frequencies between Johannesburg and Victoria Falls increased from 5 to 7 flights this April, with a further increase to 9 flights a week this May. The withdrawal of Aero Zambia on the Harare/Lusaka route has resulted in Air Zimbabwe now operating 4 flights a week - on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays A new partnership between Air Zimbabwe and Air Kenya, one of Kenya’s domestic airlines, sees Air Zimbabwe’s frequencies to Nairobi going up from 4 a week to daily. Between Tanzania and Zimbabwe two flights are operated by Air Tanzania (Wednesdays and Saturdays) with Air Zimbabwe operating on Mondays making a total of 3 frequencies per week. Due to increased demand, Air Zimbabwe now operates 2 flights a day to Johannesburg, except on Wednesdays and Sundays when it operates single morning flights. Domestically, Air Zimbabwe now operates 13 direct flights a week to Victoria Falls (from Harare), and 7 via Kariba and Hwange. An additional evening flight between Harare and Victoria Falls has been introduced to offer a connection from Victoria Falls to London and Frankfurt on the airline’s evening international flights. Zimbabwe Travelers had "the time of our lives", May 21 2000 Recent travelers to Zimbabwe had the following to say about their experience: "We very nearly didn’t come - but we’ve all had the time of our lives." This remark by a departing delegate sums up the feelings of two large groups of Australians who have just ended conventions and incentive holidays at Victoria Falls. Both groups considered canceling because of the political violence in Zimbabwe. "We did our homework carefully and we decided to go ahead," explains Michael Cant, chief executive of Australian Casualty and Life, who with his wife Katrina led 240 company achievers and corporate associates and their partners on the week-long incentive trip to Victoria Falls. "There is no way that we would have exposed the group to any danger. We sought expert advice and opinion. We sent our own people out in advance, and we carried out a professional risk assessment exercise. We considered everything carefully and decided that the group would travel, but of course individuals were free to pull out and a few did." The verdict after the trip: an enthusiastic and unanimous thumbs-up. One veteran achiever in the party, after two decades of travel to the leading incentive destinations of the world, described the Victoria Falls experience as the best of them all. Insurance adviser Ted Stapleton from Victoria, checking out of the Elephant Hills Inter-Continental hotel with his wife Julie, said: "We have been absolutely overwhelmed. We did have some misgivings about coming, but they were quickly dispelled. This must be one of the most special places on Earth and we feel greatly privileged to have experienced it. Zimbabwe is being done a grave injustice by the international media, and that is really tragic. We have not felt remotely threatened here. On the contrary, we have felt very welcome and secure." Another incentive group from England included a trip to Hwange National Park and noted "We have had a simply wonderful time. I will gladly recommend Zimbabwe to my friends, colleagues and clients," said Jamie McIver, boarding the steam safari train with his wife Anita and their group. Minutes later they were halted in the middle of Victoria Falls Bridge, high above the swirling Zambezi river, sipping champagne and enjoying the sunset. Zimbabwean tour organizer Glen Byrom is confident that international bookings will pick up again after the parliamentary elections scheduled for late June. "Zimbabwe will re-emerge as one of the world’s leading destinations. It is simply too good a product to be overlooked. But it will take time," said Byrom. Australian Travel Group Recommends Zimbabwe, May 19 2000 A group of Australian travelers visited Zimbabwe earlier this May and Peter Dalton of Sydney, Australia wrote the following regarding their travel experience: "I write to inform you that Zimbabwe is a wonderful country has just played host to an incentive group of approximately 280 Australians. This group traveled in May 2000 and spent 7 magnificent nights in Zimbabwe. They were naturally "concerned" prior to their departure from Australia (thanks mainly to "less than accurate reporting of our international press"), however having spoken to the group prior to their departure from Zimbabwe, all indicated that at no time did they harbor any fears about being in Zimbabwe. Many have vowed to return and discover the many more attractions on offer. Several indicated that upon their return to Australia that they will write to the various media representatives and tell them what a wonderful time they had. A point that I thought you would find interesting; during our time in Harare, we approached several media groups (who were congregated in the foyer of the Meikles Hotel) and asked them if they would like a "Good News Story" ie; this large incentive group arriving into Zimbabwe that very week. Their reply: "not interested - we are only here to cover the bad news". Kariba Flood Gate Opens, May 21 2000 One floodgate has been opened at Zimbabwe’s Kariba Dam until Lake Kariba stabilizes. Zimbabwe’s Landela Safaris Buys Stake in Lodges, May 21 2000 Zimbabwe’s Landela Safaris has taken a 60% share in Bumi Hills, Katete, Fothergill and Kiplings lodges at Lake Kariba. They have closed Bumi and Fothergill until August 1 so they can refurbish them. Chizarira Safari Camp Closes, May 21 2000 Jed Robinson of Jedson’s camp in Zimbabwe’s Chizarira National Park has closed Jedson’s camp in Chizarira and is heading to Australia. Victoria Falls Rafting Starts Again!, May 21 2000 Zambezi River water levels have now dropped to the level at which full day rafting trips can once again be run! Regional Growth for Europcar, May 21 2000 International car rental company, Europcar’s Southern African division is to open branches in Botswana and Swaziland, bringing its total number of regional branches close to 40. Entering its fourth year of operation in Southern Africa, the expansion of the company has "exceeded all expectations". The credibility of an international name, recognized as one of the world’s three leading rental brands, has also assisted its rapid growth, as renters readily identify with the credibility of the worldwide recognized brand. Europcar has also been appointed as one of the official benefactors of the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund, and actively assists the project by donating a percentage of every rental to the Fund. Cape Town’s Chapman Drive to Remain Closed, May 21 2000 Chapman’s Peak Drive will remain closed to traffic and pedestrians for at least another ten months and possibly longer, according to experts. Between 35 and 45 specialists from geological consultants MJ Mountain and Partners are working "full time and flat out" to clear dangerously loose rocks and debris from the twisting, scenic road which is a favorite tourist draw. MJ spokesperson Richard Galliers said "March is the earliest possible date for opening if everything goes well". However, once the dangerous rocks are cleared by early next year extensive roadworks must be carried out. Table Mountain’s Tahrs to be Culled, May 21 2000 Table Mountain’s tahrs, an exotic species closely related to goats, are to be culled to save the mountain from erosion and make the slopes safer for walkers. Twenty of the animals were killed on Tuesday, but there are still about 80 left in the herd, which has lived on the slopes of the mountain for more than 70 years. The animals are darted from a helicopter and are expected to die within two minutes as the darts contain poison. South African National Parks rangers say the Himalayan tahrs are an exotic species and responsible for much of the erosion on the mountain. This is dangerous as people often use the paths created by the animals, and these paths are not safe. South Africa National Parks plans to introduce 20 pairs of indigenous klipspringers once the culling is complete. Klipspringers were apparently originally found on Table Mountain and share the same habitat, but they couldn’t live together because tahrs are bigger and more dominant. South Africa’s First Transfrontier Peace Park Officially Launched, May 21 2000 South Africa’s first Transfrontier Peace Park, the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, was officially opened by South Africa’s President Thabo Mbeki and Botswana’s President Festus Mogae on Friday, 12 May 2000, during a prestigious function at Twee Rivieren. A Peace Parks Foundation initiative, the 42,000 square kilometer park comprises the Kalahari Gemsbok National Park in South Africa and the Gemsbok National Park in Botswana. A Bilateral Agreement recognizing the new Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park (KTP) was signed on April 7, 1999 between Botswana’s Department of Wildlife and National Parks and South African National Parks. This agreement established the first formally recognized Transfrontier Conservation Area in southern Africa. A life-size bronze sculpture of two running oryx (gemsbuck) was unveiled by the presidents of South Africa and Botswana during the launch. Designed by South African wildlife artist Alan Ainslie, the two running antelope symbolize the co-operation between the two countries, and the greater freedom of movement wildlife in the park can now experience with the amalgamation of the two parks. Communal Area Conservancy in Namibia Receives Wildlife, May 21 2000 A Namibian commercial farmer has significantly boosted the wildlife population of a Namibian communal area by donating game valued at more than N$600,000 to the Nyae Nyae Conservancy in Otjozondjupa Region. Mr Leon Jooste, owner of Eden Private Game Reserve, confirmed that the reserve has donated 100 oryx, 50 eland and 200 kudu to the conservancy. Eden is one of the oldest private game reserves in Namibia. The Nyae Nyae Conservancy, which was Namibia’s first communal area conservancy to be registered in 1998, measures about 9,000 square kilometers and consists of about 730 members. Since its registration, another eight conservancies have been gazetted and the Namibian program has been recognized as one of the most innovative conservation programs in Africa. Flamingo’s Flock to Kenya’s Lake Nakuru, May 21 2000 Lake Nakuru has attracted 1.2 million flamingoes over the past couple of weeks and another 200,000 are expected over the coming weeks. The birds are drawn to this lake by microscopic insects called ‘rotifers’, which are very rich in protein and supplement their normal diet of blue-green algae. Another group of 400,000 flamingos have settled at Lake Elemanteita which is about 30 km from Lake Nakuru. Another interesting phenomenon is that the baboons at Lake Bogoria have developed a taste for flamingoes. Many of these birds die near the shores of the lake and are an easy meal for the primates. This change of diet is causing the coat of the baboons to change from the normal grey color to a tawny shade, probably because of the high keratin content of the blue-green algae on which the flamingoes feed. Lodges to be Allowed in South African National Parks, May 28 2000 Commercialization plans announced last week by the South African National Parks will soon see 'upmarket' safari lodges inside the Kruger National Park. The first phase does not only affect Kruger. Addo Elephant National Park in Eastern Cape, Golden Gate National Park in Free State and the South African section of the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park (the Kalahari Gemsbok National Park) have also been included. Four of the new conecessions being offered in Kruger are existing bush and/or private camps; They are Jakkalsbessie, Jock of the Bushveld, Boulders and Nwanetsi. Huge Conservation Area to be Created in Southern Africa, May 28 2000 South Africa, Zimbabwe and Mozambique are on the brink of signing a historic agreement to create the world's largest wildlife park. Wildlife ministers from the three countries will meet in the Kruger National Park on June 19, 2000 to sign a protocol for removing the fences between their respective countries. This step will create a huge new wildlife area covering almost 100, 000 square kilometers! Known as the Gaza-Kruger-Gonarezhou Transfrontier Area, the new transfrontier park will link Kruger Park with the Gonarezhou reserve in Zimbabwe and with a large tract of land in Mozambique's Gaza province. Before the park can be established, however, the three countries will have to seek funding from private investors and international donor agencies. In addition the countries would have to standardize their wildlife laws and Mozambique will need to establish a suitable anti-poaching and law-enforcement capacity before the fences can be dropped. The Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, Africa's first Transfrontier peace Park was officially launched earlier this month by the presidents of South Africa and Botswana. UN Aid for Congo's Wildlife, May 28 2000 The United Nations has announced plans to spend US $4-million to protect wildlife species in danger of extinction in rebel-held areas of eastern Congo, where fighting has continued despite an agreed cease-fire. A UN team is evaluating reports that several species, whose last major habitat lies in the Democratic Republic of Congo, have been virtually wiped out. Species on the brink of extinction include the white rhino, mountain gorilla and okapi. Wildlife is being poached by rebel soldiers. To worsen matters, deforestation is destroying the natural habitat of these threatened species at an alarming rate. Return to Weekly Update Archive |
